Actor Motaz Malhees, known for his role in the acclaimed movie “The Voice of Hind Rajab” that received an Oscar nomination, will not be present at this year’s Academy Awards due to travel restrictions in the United States affecting individuals holding Palestinian passports.
Malhees, who played the character of a call center employee aiding a five-year-old Palestinian girl in a perilous situation in Gaza, expressed his inability to enter the US because of his Palestinian nationality in a message shared on Instagram. He lamented about missing the opportunity to attend the prestigious event despite the film’s recognition, stating, “Three days until the Oscars. Our movie ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ is up for an Academy Award. I had the privilege of being part of a crucial narrative for the world, but I won’t be there.”
Highlighting the significance of his voice and the storytelling, he emphasized, “You can restrict a passport, but you cannot silence a voice.”
The travel restriction, implemented during the administration of former US President Donald Trump, prohibits individuals holding Palestinian passports from entering the country. However, the film’s director, Kaouther Ben Hania, a Tunisian national, is expected to be present at the ceremony.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” narrates the story of Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child, and has secured a nomination for Best International Feature at the Oscars. Due to the travel constraints, Rajab’s mother, Wissam Hamada, will be watching the event from Greece with her family, having been granted asylum there.
